Caption: Pictured above are characters Rory Gilmore (portrayed by Alexis Bledel, left) and Lorelai Gilmore (portrayed by Lauren Graham, right) from the autumn-filled TV show “Gilmore Girls”. Gilmore Girls is a TV show often rewatched during the season of fall.
When the leaves start changing colors and people start wearing outerwear to keep warm, there’s one conclusion we can come up with: we are currently in the season of fall! What comes with fall is the essence of pumpkin spice and early Halloween decorations. And with that, also comes with the annual reemergence of fall media.
People tend to correlate media and seasons with their “vibes.” For example, the sound of jingling bells, hot cocoa, and ice-cold weather are generally associated with winter. Christmas songs go on repeat as soon as temperatures go below 60 degrees. With fall, TV shows like “Gilmore Girls” become prevalent yet again. Gilmore Girls is a show that premiered back in 2000, specifically in the month of October – a month that is practically the epitome of fall time. Viewership for the show is about 14% higher in the fall compared to the rest of the year. Fans of the show “Gilmore Girls” tend to begin their rewatching session starting September, when the weather becomes cooler, primarily to match the autumnal atmosphere and ambience. The show starts off with Rory Gilmore, the show’s protagonist, and her acceptance into the prestigious private school called Chilton. The journey of this 7-season show begins with a dive into a new school year, during fall, adding to the vibe of it all. The show is set in a small Connecticut town called Stars Hollow, with a family-owned diner that Rory and various other main characters frequent. If that, plus the unhealthy consumption of hot coffee and croissants doesn’t scream fall, then I don’t know what does. The show’s color palette also plays a big role in invoking this “fall vibe,” utilizing a warm orange filter throughout the entirety of the show to create a cozy and nostalgic feeling.
As specific TV shows enter your rewatch list as fall arrives, songs make their way into your playlist as well. Songs like “We Fell in Love in October” by Girl in Red and “Sweater Weather” are indie classics that are often correlated with the comforting season of all. Even if these songs are foreign or unfamiliar to you, they generally all have the same theme in common: they use gentle and serene melodies and lyrics describing the transition of seasons, cooler breezes, and memories that invoke nostalgia. Fall arrives towards the end of the year, while simultaneously marking the beginning of the school year. This combination allows a person to reflect on the year as a whole, with bittersweet memories made throughout the span of a vast year, very well necessitating this sense of nostalgia and reflection. After the summer season full of excitement, a sunny atmosphere, warm weather and upbeat music, fall serves as a perfect transition, offering an opportunity to wind down and feel cozy.